Kodak challenged me to start vlogging and do once a week vlog about vlogging and my challenges in vlogging. Frankly, I’d rather learn a new skill like snowboarding (proof that I did it? Watch the video!) than another computer program (editing) or look at myself on video. What do you think..? Should I just stick to writing or venture to vlogging and release my inner dorkness?

Park City Mountain Resort is in the search of new Snowmamas, and you can apply to become one!

Snowmamas are moms helping other moms with tips and insights of family ski vacations, and answering questions from parents who are planning their first or their tenth ski vacation. Anyone can apply to become a Snowmama – or Snowpapa. I hear papas are welcomed to apply as well, and in our family the family ski vacation planning is a team effort, and sometimes I feel like the ski vacations are the vacations the papa in our family gets the most excited about anyways.

Truth to be told, we all feel the same way – nothing beats family ski vacations, and our kids have been skiing since they were about five years old. Did you know that I founded Skimbaco while we lived in Colorado, and it actually comes from a Finnish word “skimba” that means skis/skiing? That’s how close to our hearts skiing is.

The Snowmamas application process started earlier this week and kids and I joined the Park City Mountain Resort team and fellow Snowmama Eileen Ogintz to celebrate the launch at the Today Show Plaza. Like family ski vacations create memories that children will remember their lifetime – so is being on TV, and doing a New York City adventure on school night. Kids made signs the night before, and were so excited to be on the Today Show set. They talked to Matt Lauer, Meredith Vieira, Ann Curry and Al Roker – and shared their enthusiasm of skiing.

Park City Mountain Resort discounted ski season passes until October 15th.

It’s first of October! October for most people is the time to enjoy the autumn leaves, and have fun with kids on Halloween, for ski enthusiasts it is the time to start already thinking the upcoming ski season. Here are the top six tips what to do in October to get ready for the upcoming ski season.

1. Book Your Ski Trip
To get the best deals to travel this upcoming ski season, book your trip in October. Flights are cheaper when you book them now and many resorts offer travels deals, and you can save a good chunk by booking already now.

Depending the location, many ski resorts try to open the slopes already around Thanksgiving, but since there is no guarantee of the weather, make sure to contact your favorite ski resort to ask when they are planning on opening, before you book your early-season ski trip.

2. Save Money on Gear – Shop Now for Last Season
If you are fast, now is the time to get the best deals on ski gear – if you are willing to buy last years models. You can save up to 75% of the retail price on last year’s ski gear, as the stores are getting ready to stock their shelves with new winter 2010 ski gear. Better yet… some stores offer pre-season sales, like for example Sun and Ski Sports – they already have some winter 2010 skis in and you can save up to 200 dollars on some of the newest skis.

3. Save Even More Money on Gear – Swap or Rent
If for some reason you can not find a deal on new skis right now, or still would like to save a little more money – look for local ski swaps, check out used skis at eBay, Craig’s List or see if a ski rental shop is selling any of their used inventory. Your local ski shops will know about the ski swaps – just call and ask! If you are looking for ski gear for kids – look for garage sales, post an ad for Craig’s List to buy used gear or rent it. Most ski shops have season rentals, and you don’t have to worry about returning the skis until the end of the season next spring. If you plan on skiing with the kids only a few times a season, I would also consider renting directly from the resorts you are visiting.

North Face Femtech TRICLIMATE® Jacket, new for winter 2010.

4. New Ski Gear is Coming!
If you are a ski freak, you will want to know the latest and greatest ski gear coming up, and wait until you can get the coolest new gear. It’s that time… some gear has already arrived to stores, and will keep coming the upcoming weeks. While some ski equipment is already in, not all brands are in yet. But several clothing brands have already started shipping new fashions for winter 2010 and for example North Face already has new styles in stock. My favorite is the three-in-one jacket above.

5. Get Into Shape
Ok, most of you skiers are probably sports fanatics during summers too. Me – not so much.
Getting shape for ski season will be my main goal for October and November. If you are a lucky Wii-owner I would like to recommend a Wii fitness game that will get you in shape by the start of the ski season. Jillian Michaels Fitness Ultimatum 2009 will be available on October 21st and I had an change to meet Jillian and get to preview the game a few weeks ago. Let’s just say that you will feel this workout and you can focus on building strength and whole body coordination with this game. Instead of using equipment to exercise you will use your own body and gravity to get the best results. You will need all your muscles for skiing – this game will wake up even those which ones might have been taking a siesta all summer long.

Another great brand of shoes that I just found out is Earth Footwear – their shoes have soles that make you feel a little bit like you are walking toes up – this makes you work your muscles in a new way and the just walking with the Earth Shoes will strengthen and tone your body. Yes – just get a new pair of shoes and burn more calories and get in shape.

6. Get Your Season Ski Pass on Discounted Price
Many resorts are offering reduced priced season passes still a few more weeks. The cut date for discounted season passes for several ski resorts is October 15th, from Park City Mountain Resort in Utah to Killington Resort in Vermont.

I had heard of Napapijri before, but mainly ignored it for the high price tag… until I finally met with the clothing line face to face last weekend when shopping for back to school clothes for my kids. Now I am in love!

Napapijri is from Italy, even though the name comes from a Finnish word napapiiri, Artic Circle, and the clothes have Norwegian flags sewn into them. And simply said, the clothing line is something that you can imagine seeing at the Alps, worn by ski “bums” who drive Land Rovers and Lamborghinis. I love the preppy yet so casual polos, and jackets that you can see as comfortably worn at the streets of New York, or at the Rocky Mountain side. Among pretty much everything this company makes.

Style for men & women.

We only bought winter and fall time clothes, already ready. We are going to ski at Park City Mountain Resort this Christmas, and I guess I get little over excited about already stocking up with après-ski clothes for me and kids. I hate to admit this… but I even bought a coat that I’m planning on wearing for the flights.. yes, in December. I think the combination of seeing Napapijri’s clothing and the excitement of our trip just made me go a little nuts, I admit. We didn’t ski last season because my husband got injured and had a ankle surgery, so no wonder I have this ski fever already now, and I need to try not to start packing on our Park City ski trip yet. After all, it’s four months away…

Napapijri doesn’t make me just miss skiing and the mountain lodges, it makes me miss Europe. The line is so unmistakably European, and the fabrics just have that high quality, luxurious feel, that I love. Clothing that makes you feel so comfortable, fabrics so soft, and quality so good it’ll last for years (I hope, but I’ll keep you updated). The price tag – I don’t wanna look, nor I want to tell. It is ridiculously expensive, but the way these clothes make me feel, worth every penny.

I couldn’t find many pictures of their winter line yet, but here are some clothing from their summer line.

These look something my son would love!

The kids clothes are just beyond cute!

Napapijri has two stores in the United States, in New York and Miami, but you can find their clothes in some small boutiques as well, and online. The best deals I found at Sierra Trading Post, but the women’s and kids clothing is much more difficult to find online than men’s. Oh, and if you ever order online, size up, these clothes run super small.

One of the ski resorts where I want to take kids is Park City Mountain Resort in Utah. Park City Mountain Resort is known for their family friendliness. For example they have Signature 5 and Signature 3 programs in the kids’ ski school. Signature 5 meaning that they never have more than 5 students on the ski class, which is geared for 6-14 year olds, and Signature 3 is for kids under five, with no more than 3 kids on the same class. That’s something what a mother of three can truly appreciate!

Our dreams of skiing this winter were totally crushed when my husband got hurt, so I am truly hoping to start the next ski season early, and I am dreaming of a trip to Park City Mountain Resort as soon as they open for the next season!

Park City Mountain Resort is so much more than just skiing though. Their summer activities are phenomenal, from alpine coaster to horseback riding and from mini golf to summer time scenic lift rides.

I am so excited to tell that one lucky family will get to travel to Park City Mountain Resort – and you might be the one sending them there! Snowmamas of Park City Mountain Resort and Mom It Forward have teamed up to recognize a deserving mom to win a family summer vacation in Park City Mountain Resort.

“Think of a person who has made a big difference in your life. Someone that embraces the Mom It Forward mission. Someone that lifts others, has overcome challenges with a smile, is a positive force for good, or just makes your world a better place.”

Go and Mom it Forward – recommend someone you know to win this trip! I had several in my mind, but I mommed it forward to Kristin of A Ordinary Life, because she is always helping others and someone I truly admire.

Enter to win: Click directly to the giveaway and comment there according the rules. NOTE: you can not win commenting on my blog post here, you need to comment at the link provided. Deadline: midnight on Tuesday, March 17.